Make Changes

Now that you have a branch, it's time to make your contribution!

Before You Start

1. Read the issue carefully - Understand what needs to be done
2. Check contributing guidelines - Follow project-specific rules
3. Ask questions - If anything is unclear, ask!

Making Your Changes

Step 1: Open the Project

Use your favorite code editor:

# VS Code
code .

# Or just open the folder in your editor

Step 2: Find the Files

Navigate to the files mentioned in the issue or that need changes.

Step 3: Make Your Changes

Edit the files according to the issue requirements. For example:

Fixing a typo in README.md:

# Before
This is a grate project!

# After
This is a great project!

Adding a feature:

// Add new function
function calculateTotal(items) {
  return items.reduce((sum, item) => sum + item.price, 0);
}

Testing Your Changes

For Documentation Changes

1. Read through your changes
2. Check for typos and grammar
3. Verify links work
4. Preview if possible

For Code Changes

# Run tests
npm test
# or
python -m pytest

# Run the application
npm start
# or
python app.py

# Check for linting errors
npm run lint

Check What You Changed

# See which files you modified
git status

# See the actual changes
git diff

# See changes in a specific file
git diff filename.txt

Best Practices

Do's ✅

• Make focused changes - Stick to the issue scope
• Test thoroughly - Ensure nothing breaks
• Follow code style - Match the project's style
• Add comments - Explain complex changes
• Update documentation - If you change functionality

Don'ts ❌

• Don't make unrelated changes - Stay focused
• Don't skip testing - Always test
• Don't ignore errors - Fix any issues
• Don't commit sensitive data - No passwords or API keys

Common Scenarios

Scenario 1: Documentation Fix

# 1. Open the file
# 2. Fix the typo/error
# 3. Save the file
# 4. Preview if possible

Scenario 2: Bug Fix

# 1. Reproduce the bug
# 2. Identify the cause
# 3. Fix the code
# 4. Test the fix
# 5. Ensure no new bugs

Scenario 3: New Feature

# 1. Understand requirements
# 2. Plan your approach
# 3. Implement the feature
# 4. Write tests
# 5. Update documentation

Next Steps

Once you're happy with your changes:

• Commit your changes
• Push to GitHub
• Create a pull request